MOCHA. 
407 
the Dola for leave, he seDt Devage to me to ask who would be 
answerable for the Arab, if the natives put him in prison. I as- 
sured him he should have the same protection from the Panther 
that Mr. Salt and the other gentlemen had. With this he was per- 
fectly satisfied ; a proof to my mind that this protection is sufficient 
to insure them a safe passage to Gondar. A dow was sent off with 
letters for the Ras and Gurrum Ghund, announcing my intentions. 
June 15. — In the evening the Augusta returned with Mr. Pringle. 
I learned by a letter from Gaptain Sparks, that the S. W. monsoon 
being set in, it was unsafe to carry the ship to Macullah, which was 
open to that point, though admirably protected from the opposite ; 
that they proceeded thither in their boats from Broom bay, where 
they anchored. The Nakib was extremely civil. He restored fifty 
bales of broad cloth, and other articles, to the amount of half a lac, 
and debited himself six thousand dollars for rice. He declared, 
that he had received from the ship no other goods. This was pro- 
bably false, as a large quantity of blue, scarlet, and green cloth, 
had found its way to Mocha, where it sold for three dollars the 
gudge. He made a demand of five thousand five hundred dollars 
for the expenses of Ascari and men on board. Had Mr. Pringle 
staid and settled with him, it is probable a much greater proportion 
of the goods would have been recovered, as they were not then 
sold. Captain Sparks considered the Nakib's conduct as altogether 
meritorious for an Arab. He had given the first intelligence of the 
ship's being there ; had professed the greatest regard for the English 
nation ; and had tried to secure the murderers. He had willingly 
given the ship to Benzoni, when he arrived at Macullah alone, and 
unsupported : he had not stolen so much as he might have done, 
